Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: 'D'Sqn. died at Bloemfontein 29.6.1900.
B5204: Queen's South Africa medal and 2 clasps (Drief. & CC) struck out, deceased 29.6.1900.
URL2: Memorial Bloemfontein Cemetery.
URL3: dangerously ill at Bloemfontein.
URL4: died from enteric at Bloemfontein.
Monaro Mercury: Of the four Cooma volunteers for the
S. African war, two have passed the various tests, viz. Messrs. Walter DAVIDSON and W FREEMAN, whose services will be accepted. These will leave with the
Second Contingent about the end of next week [c1.1900] The other two failed in the shooting tests. Cablegrams received 31.5.1900 state that Pte. WC MACDONALD of the NSW Infantry who was severely wounded, is at Winburg. He was previously a resident of Cooma and left some time since to work at Mittagong. He was familiarly referred to as 'Ballyhooley' by his Cooma friends. At Mittagong he was a prominent member of the football club, and belonged to H Coy. 2nd Infantry Regt. The cable also reports that Pte. W FREEMAN of Cooma is dangerously ill at Bloemfontein. Yesterday 17.6.1900 at St. Patrick's Church Cooma the Rev. Father HARNETT announced that prayers would be offered for the repose of the soul of Tpr. William FREEMAN who died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein. A requiem mass will be celebrated at the church 19.6.1900.
URL5: Pte. W FREEMAN First Contingent from Cooma NSW seriously ill with enteric at Bloemfontein c6.1900.
URL6: Private W FREEMAN reported to be dangerously ill at Bloemfontein, is a Cooma man, and was under Captain LEGGE. Private WC MCDONALD severely wounded, now at Winburg Hospital, was formerly a resident of Cooma.
URL7: Of the Cooma district residents, W DAVIDSON and W FREEMAN have passed the medical examination, musketry course, and riding tests for the mounted infantry section of the second contingent for the South African war [c12.1899]. A WILLIAMS, reservist, has yet to pass the riding test.
URL8: During Saturday and yesterday [10.6.1900] the Premier, Sir William LYNE, received the following cable messages from the High Commissioner for South Africa, Sir Alfred MILNER - "8th June. I regret to report that No. 299, Bugler WA MELVILLE, Australian Horse, has been taken prisoner' (In good health); that No. 82, Private I GOODSELL, New South Wales Ambulance Corps, died of enteric fever at Deelfontein." "9th June. Charles Percy NORNE was discharged from Bethune's Mounted Infantry on 20th January. Nothing heard of him since. Thomas Henry DILLON was not reported prisoner from Colonial (?). Frank DILLON, Brabant's. Horse, is a prisoner unwounded. I regret to report that No. 311, Private W FREEMAN, died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein on 29th May; and that No. 58, AE SMITH, died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein on the 30th May. They were both members of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles."
URL10: The WAR PATH IN AFRICA, (MR. DJ STEWART), Holden Farm, Near Bloemfontein, March 24. 1900. ... I am acting as accountant for the company, doing the work of pay sergeant, for which I receive from the Imperial Government the pay of a sergeant. The position of course, carries with it a number of privileges, amongst them being exemption from fatigue work, guard, picquets, etc. Having access to the books of the regiment, I amused myself the other day looking over the rolls and picking out all the members of tho second contingent who hail FROM THE SOUTH COAST and adjoining districts. Many of them, I find, I know well, and have numbers of friends in Illawarra. There is Sergeant WATSON, of B. Co., who recently resided for several months at BULLI as drill instructor, and who has 23 years Imperial service to his credit; there is Lance-corporal RT LYNCH, from HELENSBURGH AND CLIFTON and there is Private D GOODSELL, late of the DAPTO SMELTING WORKS. The only KIAMA representative is R HALLIWELL, but there are a couple of GERRINGONG men — Privates JJ WILSON and E MCLELLAND; and Privates BJ BYRNE, M HEALEY, HJ MCGRATH, and J MCCRACKEN (poor Mac! his shoulder-blade was broken through his being thrown from his horse in our first engagement, and he has not yet rejoined us) come from Bega; Cooma sends WT DAVIDSON and W FREEMAN — both coach drivers; W CAVANAGH a KANGAROO VALLEY farmer also amongst us; and there are several from the Campbelltown district - Sergt. CF VACCHINI, of Picton, who was one of the contractors for the laying of the tramline at the Dapto Smelting Works; Private F HAYES, a Picton grazier; QMS LACEY, one of the hardest-worked men in the regiment, who comes from Camden, which is also represented by E ZGLINSKI, a compositor; and CR SMITH; while Campbelltown has representatives in Lieut. NEWMAN, Lance-Corporal TJ LEES (who is well known to Archie BEATSON, Jack GALVIN, W RICHARDSON and other WOLLONGONG CRICKETERS, Privates W DUVALL and C SPOONER. Our captain — AM HILLIARD — a first-class officer, also has a number of Illawarra friends. He used frequently to visit the SHELLHARBOR DISTRICT, his wife being one of the REDDALLs, of that locality. I forget whether I told you that I had met Mr. Ted LINDSAY, UNANDERRA, of the A Company Mounted Rifles. His company is now with us, and we see a good deal of each other. Hoe is in capital health and with the other members of his Company has had many exciting adventures. Speaking to Capt. ANTILL, who is a fine type of officer, he told me that while OLD CARDIGAN, whom he purchased from George LINDSAY, of Unanderra, stood the voyage across remarkably well, he became sick on landing and he had never been able to use him; the old favorite of the show-ring has for some months been turned out — at De Aar, I think. I met GILBERT RAMSAY. It was at Poplar Grove I heard the Lancers had arrived and were to go forward in an hour or two. I started off to look RAMSAY up. (ARTHUR WOODS is still at Modder River with sick horses), and, coming upon the Lancers camp, I approached one of them standing by and asked him if he could tell me whether Private RAMSAY was among thorn. He looked at a moment and burst out laughing, and held out his hand, remarking, "So it is you after all; I couldn't believe it was the DJ STEWART of the MERCURY when I heard that you had come out with the Second Contingent." Then I recognised Gilbert RAMSAY himself. He grown a fine beard which has greatly altered his appearance. He was looking remarkably well and had many stirring experiences to relate. The Lancers and we are camped within a couple of miles of each other now. ...
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